World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide
Arcane Mage
Ranged damage
Stack Arcane Blast, spend it on free 
Arcane Missiles from 
Missile Barrage, and watch your mana. The spec that gained most, and the top of early tier lists.
Arcane builds stacks of Arcane Blast: each 1.5 s cast gives you 15% of your Intellect as extra spell damage, up to four times, for 15 seconds from the first stack, and raises Blast's own cost by 175% each time. Missile Barrage gives every Blast a 40% chance (Fireball, Frostbolt and Frostfire Bolt 20%) to make your next Arcane Missiles twice as fast and free, and the Missiles then spend the stacks. Arcane Meditation keeps half your mana regeneration going while you cast, Arcane Concentration gives free casts, and Presence of Mind (from 30) and Arcane Power (from 40) are your burst. The whole spec is a mana decision: stop stacking before you run dry.
Strengths and weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Top of the early tier lists, with Arcane Blast stacks building the damage | The whole spec is a mana decision, as each stack raises Blast's own cost |
| Missile Barrage gives free, faster Arcane Missiles that spend the stacks | Missile Barrage needs you to stand still for the channel |
| Arcane Meditation keeps half your mana regeneration going while you cast | Stacking four on a mob that two casts will kill costs more than it adds |
| Presence of Mind from 30 and Arcane Power from 40 give burst | Arcane Power and Fingers of Frost cannot share a build |
| Arcane Subtlety cuts Arcane threat by 30% for dungeons | Intellect and spell power are both needed, so gear matters |
Stat priority
- Spell power
- Hit
- Intellect
- Crit
- Haste
- Spirit
Rank spell power > hit > haste > Intellect > crit > Spirit > MP5. Alternatively, put Arcane damage and spell power first and Intellect higher than for Fire or Frost, because Arcane Mind adds 10% Intellect and each Blast costs more. Spirit is also valued highly for regeneration with Arcane Meditation and Mage Armor. Arcane Focus gives Arcane hit only.
Do this
- Missile Barrage procs from Frostbolt and Fireball too, so a Frostbolt pull can open with free Missiles.
- Arcane Meditation needs Arcane Concentration 5/5: take both early.
- Don't build four stacks on a mob that two casts will kill; the stacks cost more than they add.
- Arcane Subtlety cuts Arcane threat by 30% and every resistance by 15: worth it for dungeons.
Watch out for
- The Blast stacks last 15 s from the first one, not until your next spell, so other spells no longer end them (check in game). A fifth Blast still only costs more.
- Fire Blast and other filler no longer clearly end the stacks (untested); watch the 15 s timer instead.
- Missile Barrage still needs you to stand still for the channel.
- Arcane Power and Fingers of Frost can't share a build: 52 points needed.
- Arcane Focus only adds hit to Arcane spells; a Frostbolt or Fireball finisher doesn't get it.